Obituary of Donald Milligan

Milligan, Donald P. (DP, Bub, Don, Gramps)
Middlesex: Formerly of Rochester, Chili, Farmington and Fairport Passed away on December 3rd at the age of 92. He is predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Virginia (Failing) and sister Marge Carter. He is survived by his brother William (age 94), daughter Joan Burdsall (John) and his son John Milligan (Linda), grandchildren Jennifer Leiter (Fred) and Jerod Burdsall (Kelly), Stacey LeGrette (Todd), Justin Milligan (Nicole) and 8 great grandchildren and several nephews and nieces. DP was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was born in Rochester and attended Madison H.S. which he left in 1943 at the age of 17 to join the war effort and enlisted in the Navy. He served on the light cruiser, USS Phoenix, regarded as the luckiest ship in the Navy. He shared many stories of his navy life, including chores in the boiler room, leave in Australia and several battles in the South Pacific. He returned to Rochester after the war and soon married the love of his life, Virginia. He worked in a few Insurance agencies before he established his independent agency, Donald P. Milligan Insurance. He later joined the Times Union as a newspaper tube carrier. In his youth his family spent many summers in the Adirondacks and soon became his love. He purchased a plot of land outside Old Forge, NY in 1968 and with the help of his family built a 3 room cabin using only hand tools and sweat. This cabin was enjoyed for several years by friends and family. He and brother Bill would travel and spend a week in the “Forge” into their 80’s and would reminisce about the “Forge” whenever they got together. DP was a former member of the Presbyterian Church of Chili and current member of United Methodist Church of Middlesex.
Friends and family may call WEDNESDAY 12/6/2017 from 10-11 AM in the Creation Chapel at White Haven Memorial Park, 210 Marsh Road, Pittsford, NY 14534. His Funeral Service will follow at 11 Am. In lieu of Flowers, memorials may be made to Friendship House, 5614 Williams Street, Middlesex, NY 14507.